By: The Division of Communications & Advancement

One of this year’s standout moments at the National Arts Festival came early. A Childhood in Chalk, a moving inter-disciplinary piece from the Drama and Education Departments at Rhodes 欧洲杯足球网_外围买球app推荐-投注|官网, earned an Ovation Award on the Fringe programme. 

The production explored the 1970s school boycotts through the eyes of children in Fingo Village – layering memory, political resistance, and the innocence of youth into a haunting narrative. Though its run has ended, the ripple effect continues. The win affirms the deep well of talent and the strength of collaborative teaching nurtured at Rhodes 欧洲杯足球网_外围买球app推荐-投注|官网.

Rhodes 欧洲杯足球网_外围买球app推荐-投注|官网 is making a commanding impact at the 2025 National Arts Festival (NAF), with students, staff, alumni, and collaborators lighting up the programme with performances, exhibitions, and conversations that challenge, inspire, and connect.

For those still exploring the Festival, several Rhodes 欧洲杯足球网_外围买球app推荐-投注|官网-linked works are on stage and calling audiences.

Umbhobho - The Red Pipe, a research-based Empatheatre production directed by master’s student Siphosethu Mankai, explores identity and resilience through storytelling and physical theatre. Grounded in the Life Orientation curriculum, it draws on real-life narratives to offer an emotionally layered experience. The show runs until 6 July at the Monument Rehearsal Room.

Thumamna “Uncool Tea” Sibhozo returns with Emotional Black Male, a solo performance that walks the tightrope between comedy and confession. Tackling toxic masculinity, emotional repression, and therapy culture, this work is raw, unfiltered, and sharply observed. It plays at the Graham Hotel on 3 July.

Another striking performance comes in the form of s’il vous plaît, a sultry and theatrical cabaret starring Mistress Mae Aisitahn-Yafais. With brassy vocals and razor-sharp wit, Mistress Mae takes audiences on a seductive journey through memories of past lovers and risqué encounters. Directed by Dara Beth and accompanied by pianist Garreth Robertson, this bold and unapologetic show combines glamour with emotional edge. It runs from 2 to 5 July in the Beethoven Room.

For younger audiences and their caregivers, Butterfly Heart / Serurubele presents a delicate and considered exploration of grief. Developed by Rhodes lecturers and students, this theatre-for-young-audiences piece helps families open conversations around death and healing. It is being staged at Glennie Hall from 2 to 5 July.

On 2 July, Tuning into Creativity, hosted by Rhodes Music Radio in collaboration with The Black Power Station, brings together broadcasters and artists to examine how radio and the arts intersect. This public dialogue offers critical insights into creative economies, self-expression, and cultural storytelling.

Music lovers should not miss Woezor, a seven-piece Afro-Roots ensemble emerging from Rhodes 欧洲杯足球网_外围买球app推荐-投注|官网’s vibrant music scene. Drawing influences from South Africa and Zimbabwe, their rich blend of marimba, mbira, township pop, and roots reggae comes alive at The Black Power Station on 6 July.

Visual art forms a vital part of Rhodes 欧洲杯足球网_外围买球app推荐-投注|官网’s presence at the festival. Associate Professor Ingrid Schudel’s exhibition Layers and Light is on display daily at Handmade Coffees. Using natural dyes and macro photography, her work reflects on the interplay between nature, memory, and material transformation.

Running throughout the festival, the Rhodes 欧洲杯足球网_外围买球app推荐-投注|官网 Fine Art Student Exhibition showcases emerging voices in contemporary portraiture. Third-year student Naledi Malotana’s striking oil paintings provide a focal point for the show, examining identity and the idea of home.

Also on offer is a photo series by alumnus Jonathan Rees, who returns to Makhanda with Stillness: Jazz Portraits. This collection is on display at the Olive Schreiner Room and captures musicians mid-performance, revealing the intimate intensity of live music and the emotional connection between artist and audience. This former Rhodes JMS student, who first picked up a camera and experienced the National Arts Festival Makhanda in 1987, says his ties to both the NAF and Rhodes 欧洲杯足球网_外围买球app推荐-投注|官网 have helped shape his work. “That’s actually where I discovered jazz music, going to a live performance,” he recalls. “I went to see William Kentridge - I loved the visual art, I went to see the live jazz, and that’s really where I fell in love with that and got a passion, I suppose.”

The Kwantu Choir, while not a Rhodes 欧洲杯足球网_外围买球app推荐-投注|官网 ensemble, features many current and former students. This year, the choir is involved in Ndingekafi: Whispers of Redemption, a choral exploration of mortality and legacy, and joins Dumza Maswana’s 20-piece orchestra for Umngqungqo Orchestral Experience at the Guy Butler Theatre on 5 July.

Rhodes 欧洲杯足球网_外围买球app推荐-投注|官网’s presence at the National Arts Festival extends far beyond individual performances. It reflects a deeper ethos – one that values creative risk, community collaboration, and education that responds to the complexities of the real world.

The stories being told through these works are grounded in lived experience. Rural schooling, gender-based violence, loss, memory, mental health, and ecological change are not abstract themes. They are brought to life with purpose and precision. Step into a theatre, pause in front of a portrait, let a choir lift you, or sit in on a conversation that might change how you think. This is creative education in motion – alive, rigorous, and rooted in place. Do not miss it. There is still much to see.

Festival programme and times available at www.nationalartsfestival.co.za.